Systems and methods for providing monitoring state-based selectable buttons to non-destructive testing devices

ABSTRACT

A system includes a portable non-destructive testing (NDT) device. The NDT device includes a processor configured to receive imaging data captured via a sensor of the NDT device, cause a display of the NDT device to display an image to be analyzed based on the imaging data, and cause the display to display a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI includes a first plurality of user-selectable objects. Each of the first plurality of user-selectable objects is configured to activate one or more monitoring functions of the NDT device. The processor is also configured to cause the display to display at least a first set of the first plurality of user-selectable objects. The first set of the first plurality of user-selectable objects is configured to substantially overlay the image. The first set of the first plurality of user-selectable objects is displayed based at least in part on an inspection state of the NDT device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of, and claims priority to, U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/292,651, filed May 30, 2014, and entitledSYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING MONITORING STATE-BASED SELECTABLEBUTTONS TO NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING DEVICES, which is herein incorporatedby reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to non-destructive testingdevices, and more specifically, to providing state-based selectablebuttons to facilitate the use of the non-destructive testing devices.

Certain devices may be used to inspect a variety of systems andfacilities, such as power generation equipment and facilities, oil andgas equipment and facilities, aircraft equipment and facilities,manufacturing equipment and facilities, and the like. The inspectionequipment may include various non-destructive inspection ornon-destructive testing (NDT) devices. For example, video borescopes,portable eddy current inspection devices, portable X-ray inspectiondevices, and the like, may be used to observe or otherwise inspect thesystem and facilities using nondestructive inspection techniques. TheNDT devices may include user interfaces useful in allowing users toperform various monitoring functions. Unfortunately, such userinterfaces may be complex, cumbersome, and time-consuming for users. Itmay be useful to provide NDT devices with improved user interfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Certain embodiments commensurate in scope with the originally claimedinvention are summarized below. These embodiments are not intended tolimit the scope of the claimed invention, but rather these embodimentsare intended only to provide a brief summary of possible forms of theinvention. Indeed, the invention may encompass a variety of forms thatmay be similar to or different from the embodiments set forth below.

In one embodiment, a system includes a portable non-destructive testing(NDT) device. The NDT device includes a processor configured to receiveimaging data captured via a sensor of the NDT device, cause a display ofthe NDT device to display an image to be analyzed based on the imagingdata, and cause the display to display a graphical user interface (GUI).The GUI includes a first plurality of user-selectable objects. Each ofthe first plurality of user-selectable objects is configured to activateone or more monitoring functions of the NDT device. The processor isalso configured to cause the display to display at least a first set ofthe first plurality of user-selectable objects. The first set of thefirst plurality of user-selectable objects is configured tosubstantially overlay the image. The first set of the first plurality ofuser-selectable objects is displayed based at least in part on aninspection state of the NDT device.

In a second embodiment, a non-transitory computer-readable medium havingcomputer executable code stored thereon is presented. The code includesinstructions to receive image data captured via a camera of an NDTdevice, display an image to be analyzed based on the captured imagedata, and to display a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI includesa plurality of user-selectable buttons. Each of the plurality ofuser-selectable buttons is configured to execute one or more monitoringfunctions of the NDT device. The code also includes instructions todisplay a first set of the plurality of user-selectable buttons. Thefirst set of the plurality of user-selectable buttons is configured tosubstantially overlay the image. The first set of the plurality ofuser-selectable buttons is sequenced based at least in part on amonitoring state of the GUI.

In a third embodiment, a method includes receiving image data capturedvia a camera of an NDT device, displaying an image to be analyzed basedon the captured image data, and displaying a graphical user interface(GUI), wherein the GUI comprises a plurality of graphical touch buttons.Each of the plurality of graphical touch buttons is configured toexecute one or more monitoring functions of the NDT device. The methodalso includes displaying a first set of the plurality of graphical touchbuttons. The first set of the plurality of graphical touch buttons isconfigured to substantially overlay the image. The first set of theplurality of graphical touch buttons is sequenced based at least in parton a monitoring state of the GUI.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood when the following detaileddescription is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in whichlike characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates embodiments of various non-destructive testing (NDT)devices, in accordance with the present embodiments;

FIG. 2 illustrates embodiments of various objects that may be includedas part of a graphical user interface (GUI) of the NDT devices of FIG.1, in accordance with the present embodiments;

FIG. 3 is an embodiment of a GUI including one or more state-basedselectable buttons, in accordance with the present embodiments;

FIG. 4 an embodiment of the GUI of FIG. 3 including additional graphicalselectable buttons and a pop-up menu, in accordance with the presentembodiments;

FIG. 5 is a view of an embodiment of the GUI of FIG. 3 illustrating afreeze-frame monitoring state, in accordance with the presentembodiments;

FIG. 6 is a view of an embodiment of the GUI of FIG. 3 illustrating asplit-screen view of a live video monitoring state and a freeze-framemonitoring state, in accordance with the present embodiments;

FIG. 7 is a view of an embodiment of the GUI of FIG. 3 illustrating arecall monitoring state, in accordance with the present embodiments;

FIG. 8 is a view of an embodiment of the GUI of FIG. 7 illustrating therecall monitoring state including a zoom action, in accordance with thepresent embodiments;

FIG. 9 is a view of an embodiment of the GUI of FIG. 7 illustratingthumbnail views of recall files in the recall monitoring state, inaccordance with the present embodiments;

FIG. 10 is a view of an embodiment of the GUI of FIG. 7 illustratingfile folders in a list view in the recall monitoring state, inaccordance with the present embodiments;

FIG. 11 is a view of an embodiment of the GUI of FIG. 7 illustratingdisplay thumbnails of images captured during inspection by using the NDTdevices, in accordance with the present embodiments;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a process useful inpresenting and configuring selectable buttons (e.g., touch buttons) aspart of a GUI to reduce complexity and facilitate the use of NDTdevices;

FIG. 13 is an embodiment of a profile suitable for customizing the NDTdevices to enable a more efficient interaction between the NDT devicesand a user, in accordance with the present embodiments;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a process suitable forcreating, executing, and disseminating the profile shown in FIG. 13, inaccordance with the present embodiments; and

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of an embodiment of information flow showingthe profile of FIG. 14 being distributed among a variety of systems, inaccordance with the present embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One or more specific embodiments will be described below. In an effortto provide a concise description of these embodiments, not all featuresof an actual implementation are described in the specification. Itshould be appreciated that in the development of any such actualimplementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerousimplementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve thedevelopers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related andbusiness-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation toanother. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a developmenteffort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be aroutine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those ofordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.

When introducing elements of various embodiments of the presentinvention, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended tomean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,”“including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean thatthere may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

Present embodiments relate to a non-destructive testing (NDT) device(e.g., video borescope) useful in presenting and configuringuser-selectable buttons (e.g., physical key buttons and/or virtualbuttons) as part of a user-configurable GUI. In certain embodiments, theNDT device may provide, for example, one or more default rows ofconfigurable buttons (e.g., physical key buttons and/or virtual buttons)to allow a number functions to be performed by the NDT device. In otherembodiments, due to the various applications for which the NDT devicemay be used, the NDT device may also provide a dynamic arrangement ofbuttons based on certain states that the NDT device may be in, such asmonitoring states (e.g., individual monitoring screen status such aslive video state or screen, a freeze-frame state or screen, a recallstate or screen, and so forth) of the GUI presented on the display ofthe NDT device. Furthermore, in certain embodiments, the selectablebuttons that appear within each screen of the GUI on the display of theNDT device may be completely user-configurable and stored as part of auser profile or specific NDT device profile. In this way, the user(e.g., operator, technician, engineer, and so forth) may be able tonavigate through the NDT device's GUI more comfortably and efficiently,thus facilitating and improving the use and user-friendliness of suchdevices in various testing and inspection applications.

With the foregoing in mind, it may be useful to describe embodiments ofvarious non-destructive testing (NDT) devices, such as example NDTdevices 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1. The NDT devices 10 may include anyof various portable devices (e.g., mobile electronic devices) that maybe useful in monitoring, analyzing, and providing visual inspection, forexample, in a gas turbine system, a steam turbine system, a hydraulicturbine system, one or more compressor systems (e.g., aeroderivativecompressors, reciprocating compressors, centrifugal compressors, axialcompressors, screw compressors, and so forth), one or more electricmotor systems, industrial systems including, for example, fans,extruders, blowers, centrifugal pumps, or any of various additionalindustrial devices or machinery that may be included in an industrialplant or other industrial facility.

In certain embodiments, as depicted in FIG. 1, the NDT devices 10 mayinclude a video borescope 12, an eddy current inspection device 14, atransportable pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera 16, an ultrasonic flaw detector18, a portable digital radiography device 20, an interface device 22,and so forth. The interface device 22 may include a mobile device (e.g.,cell phone, laptop, tablet computer) that may be communicatively coupledto the aforementioned NDT devices 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 suitable forproviding enhanced visualization (e.g., at a larger screen display), andfor remote control and operations of the NDT devices 12, 14, 16, 18, 20.The NDT devices 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 may be connected to each otherand/or to local servers (e.g., local area network [LAN] servers), remoteservers (e.g., wide area network [WAN] servers), and “cloud” baseddevices and services, near-field communication (NFC), and so forth. Inone embodiment, the interface device 22 may be a MENTOR™ hardware deviceor software “app” executable via a mobile device (e.g., cell phone,tablet) available from General Electric Company, of Schenectady, N.Y.Likewise, the 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 devices may also be available fromGeneral Electric Company, of Schenectady, N.Y.

The depicted NDT devices 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 include respectiveprocessors 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 and memory 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, and 46.The NDT devices 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 may additionally include acommunications system suitable for communicating with other NDT devices12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 and with external systems such as “cloud”based systems, servers, computing devices (e.g., tablets, workstations,laptops, notebooks), and the like. The memory devices 36, 38, 40, 42,44, and 46 may include non-transitory, tangible storage suitable forstoring computer code or instructions useful in implementing varioustechniques described herein and may be executed via the respectiveprocessors 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, and 34. As will be further appreciated,the devices 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 may also include respectivedisplays that may be used to display a graphical user interface (GUI)including user-configurable selectable buttons (e.g., touch buttons) tofacilitate use of the devices 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22. For example,the borescope 12, which may be, for example, a video borescope 12, mayinclude a display 25 (e.g., liquid crystal display [LCD], organic lightemitting display [OLED], etc.) that may be touch-sensitive (e.g., touchscreen) and used to allow a user to interface and/or control theborescope 12 and/or other NDT devices 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22.

In certain embodiments, as previously discussed, a user 48 (e.g.,operator, field technician, engineer, and so forth) may utilize the NDTdevices 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 to inspect facilities 50, includingfacilities that may have equipment such as oil and gas equipment 52, andmay include locations such as the interior of pipes or conduits 54,underwater (or underfluid) locations 56, and inaccessible or partiallyinaccessible locations such as locations having curves or bends 58, andso forth. Similarly, Other systems 60 may also be inspected, such asaircraft systems, power generation systems (e.g., gas turbines, steamturbines, wind turbines, hydroturbines, combustion engines, generators,electric motors, and so forth), machinery (compressors, expanders,valves, actuators, and so forth), and the like, that may includeconduits 62, various surfaces 64 and 66, and may be used to findundesired cracks 68 or to visualize parts 70, among many other uses.

In certain embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 2, as part of the GUI,the user 48 may be presented with a number of GUI objects 80, including,for example, text objects, multimedia objects, and/or audio objects,suitable for viewing and/or controlling operations of the devices 12,14, 16, 18, 20, and 22. Specifically, the objects 80 may be provided bythe manufacturer of the devices 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 as part ofthe GUI and/or other applications useful in operating the devices. Forexample, as illustrated, the objects 80 may include a selectable button82 (e.g., graphical selectable button, touch button) that may be used toactivate or deactivate components (hardware or software components) ofthe NDT devices 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22. A labeled radio button 84may be used to select or deselect components of the NDT devices 12, 14,16, 18, 20, and 22. A labeled textbox control 86 that may be used todisplay any number of textual data (e.g., sensor data, annotations,notes, time/date, parameter settings, and so on). A video 88 may be usedto display motion images. A labeled checkbox control 90 may be used tocheck or uncheck features (e.g., hardware or software features) of theNDT devices 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22. A labeled menu control 92 may beused to display hierarchical data. A label display 94 may be used todisplay a static text and a graphic, as desired. A labeled tip mapcontrol 96 may be used to display a current tip position, for example,for the tip of the borescope 12.

Likewise, a labeled slider control 98 may be used to adjust any numberof hardware or software components, parameters, and so on by “sliding”to a desired level. An icon 100 may be used to display static images. Anaudio 102 may be used to provide audio commands, voice annotations,audio instructions, and so on. A labeled arrow control 104 may be usedto point to image or video features displayed by the NDT devices 12, 14,16, 18, 20, and 22. A labeled joystick 106 and/or control pad 108 may beused to manipulate certain components (e.g., tip of the borescope 12) todispose the components into a desired position. Similarly, a labeledgrouping control 110 may be used to “lasso” or group components in orderto move the components, delete the components from a screen, and soforth.

However, while FIG. 2 illustrates various objects 80 (e.g., button 82,radio button 84, text box 86, and so forth) that may be displayed viathe display 25 (e.g., touch sensitive display) of the borescope 12and/or other NDT devices 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22, in certain embodiments,it may be useful to provide a specific number of selectable buttons 82(e.g., virtual key buttons) based on, for example, a select number ofmonitoring states or screens that the borescope 12 and/or other NDTdevices 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 may be used to present to the user 48.Specifically, in some embodiments, when inspecting devices (e.g., pumps,pipes, conduits, and so forth) and machinery (e.g., gas turbines, steamturbines, wind turbines, hydroturbines, combustion engines, generators,electric motors, compressors, and so forth), there may be a desiredgroup of inspection actions that the user 48 may desire to perform basedon state(s) or screen(s) on the borescope 12 (or other NDT device).

Accordingly, in certain embodiments, it may be useful to provide, forexample, one or more rows of state-based configurable buttons, thus moreefficiently prioritizing desired functionality via the display 25 of theborescope 12 and/or other NDT devices 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22. Moreover,in other embodiments, due to the various applications the borescope 12and/or other NDT devices 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 may be used for, theborescope 12 may also provide a different arrangement of buttons at eachinspection state or screen presented on the display 25. Indeed, theselectable buttons 82 that appear within each screen of the GUI on thedisplay 25 may be completely user-configurable,manufacturer-configurable, service shop configurable, and stored as apart of a user profile, an NDT device profile, or specific machineprofile (e.g., profile for a turbine, compressor, pump, conduit system,and so on).

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the selectable buttons 82 may bedisplayed on the display 25 of the borescope 12 in two rows of 4selectable buttons 82. The buttons 82 may include virtual buttonsactuated via a touch screen, virtual buttons actuated via an inputdevice (e.g., joystick), and/or virtual buttons that are mirrored byphysical buttons included in the NDT devices 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22.Indeed, in certain embodiments, the selectable buttons 82 may correspondto, and may be used as user touch alternatives for physical hard buttons(e.g., as illustrated below the display 25 of borescope 12 of FIG. 1)that may be provided on the borescope 12 and/or other NDT devices 14,16, 18, 20, and 22. Indeed, when selected, the selectable buttons 82(e.g., virtual buttons 112-126) may trigger various actions based on,for example, the current state or screen of the GUI (e.g., live video,freeze-frame, image recall, etc) of the borescope 12.

Specifically, in one embodiment, each inspection or monitoring state, orscreen of the GUI of the borescope 12 may include approximately 8selectable buttons 82 (e.g., virtual buttons 112-126) per state andseparated, for example, into 2 rows. A selectable switch 128 is alsoprovided, suitable for toggling between the upper and lower rows ofselectable buttons 82. For example, as further depicted in FIG. 3, theselectable buttons 82 may include a customizable selectable button 112,a split screen selectable button 114 (“Split Screen), a zoom selectablebutton 116 (“Zoom”), an annotation selectable button 118 (“Annotation”),an Menu Driven Inspection selectable button 120 (“MDI”), a recallselectable button 122 (“Recall”), an image selectable button 124(“Image”), a 3-dimensional phase measurement capture selectable button126 (“3DPM Capture”), the selectable switch 128, and so forth. However,it should be appreciated that the position and row of each of theselectable buttons 82 may be user-configurable, and any change a usermakes may be stored on the borescope 12 with an associated profile ofthe user, NDT device, and/or specific machine that the profile isassociated with.

In certain embodiments, each of the selectable buttons 82 may correspondto a different function of the borescope 12 and/or other NDT devices 14,16, 18, 20, and 22. For example, a user selection of the split screenselectable button 114 via the display 25 may launch a split screen(e.g., side-by-side view) that may simultaneously display, for example,a freeze-frame image as well as a live video stream of an area inside ornearby one or more inaccessible portions of monitored devices ormachinery. Specifically, a user selection of the split screen selectablebutton 114 may cause the display 25 of the borescope 12 to display atleast two separate side-by-side or top-to-bottom views of, for example,live captured video (e.g., real-time or near real-time images),freeze-frame images (e.g., still images), recall images (e.g.,previously captured still images or live video), and so forth. Eachdisplayed image may include an identifier as to whether the image islive image, freeze-frame image, or recall image. Moreover, in thismonitoring state (e.g., during inspection), the borescope 12 may allowthe user to select via the display 25 which image of the split screenappears as the live image or the freeze-frame image and/or recall image.In some embodiments, as will also be further appreciated, selecting anyof the selectable buttons 82 may also cause the display 25 of theborescope 12 to display additional virtual buttons useful in providingadditional options to the user.

Similarly, in certain embodiments, a user selection of the zoomselectable button 116 via the display 25 may allow the user to view ofmagnified view of a monitored device or machinery. Once the zoomselectable button 116 has been selected, the user may further performone or more touch gestures (e.g., pinch and zoom, double tap, etc.) orother selection technique via the display 25 of the borescope 12 tochange or adjust the zoom magnification. Likewise, a user selection ofthe annotation selectable button 118 via the display 25 of the borescope12 may allow the user to annotate certain components of the monitoreddevice or machinery to notate that component, for example, for repair,upgrades, and so forth. Annotations may include textual as well as voiceannotations.

Continuing, a user selection of the MDI selectable button 120 may launcha Menu Directed Inspection (MDI) application useful in digitally guidingthe user through one or more specific inspection processes and/orfunctions of the borescope 12. For example, the MDI application mayguide the user through a specific workflow designed to more efficientlyinspect certain components or subsystems of the machinery undergoinginspection. The workflow may include a flow chart-like process withdecision point to inspect other components or subsystems based oncurrent inspection results. Additionally, in some embodiments, the userselection of the MDI selectable button 120 may automatically generate areport of the inspection of the monitored device or machinery, as wellas automatically organize the results and data acquired via theborescope 12 and/or other NDT devices 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22. Further,in one or more embodiments, the MDI label of the MDI selectable button120 may change to a label or name of a specific MDI application once thespecific MDI application has been selected.

In a similar manner, a user selection of the recall selectable button122 via the display 25 may allow the user to view stored files (e.g.,stored videos, stored images, stored annotations, stored parametersettings, and so forth) to be displayed, measured, analyzed, furtherannotated, and so forth. Specifically, as will be further appreciatedwith respect to FIG. 8, a user selection of the recall selectable button122 may automatically launch the last saved or last viewed image (e.g.,live video image, freeze-frame image) for the user 48 to review. Inanother embodiment, a user selection of the recall selectable button 122may automatically launch a list of saved or viewed images from which theuser 48 can select therefrom to review. For example, the user 48 maydesire to recall (e.g., review a last saved or last viewed image) animage of an annotated outlying combustor within a combustion chamber ofa gas turbine. A user selection of the image selectable button 124 viathe display 25 may launch an “Image Menu,” in which the user may beallowed to alter the appearance a captured and/or viewed image. Forexample, via a selection of the image selectable button 124 and by wayof the launch of the “Image Menu,” the user may be allowed to adjustimage distortion, image brightness, invert the captured image, adjustimage long exposure, contrast, color, as well as perform variousadjustments of characteristics of the captured and/or viewed image.

In certain embodiments, a user selection of the three-dimensional phaseshifted measurement (3DPM) capture selectable button 126 via the display25 may allow the user to view three-dimensional surface scanning ofinternal spaces of the monitored device or machinery. For example, the3DPM capture selectable button 126 may launch a 3-D phase-shifted imagebased on, for example, optical phase shifting techniques. This may allowthe user 48 to view a 3-D map of one or more inner surfaces of themonitored device or machinery, for example.

In certain embodiments, in addition to the selectable buttons 82 thatmay appear on the display 25 of the borescope 12, the GUI of theborescope 12 display 25 may also include the selectable switch 128.Specifically, the selectable switch 128 may be selected (e.g., via asingle tap, double tap, flick, drag, scroll, long-press touch gesture onthe display 25, joystick) to toggle between displaying and hiding theupper and lower rows selectable buttons 82. In other embodiments, theselectable switch 128 may be a menu key, and thus a user touch gestureor selection to switch the selectable switch 128 may allow the user totoggle between one or more menu windows (e.g., menu pop-up windows) orstatus bars that may be associated with each of the selectable buttons82. For example, a user double tap gesture of the selectable switch 128may hide or display the selectable buttons 82, menu windows, and/orstatus bar, while, for example, a single tap gesture of the selectableswitch 128 may cause the display 25 of the borescope 12 to switchbetween displaying or hiding the upper and lower rows of the selectablebuttons 82.

As previously discussed, the buttons 82 may each be representative of adifferent state or screen, and may be used to navigate between states orscreens. For example, as illustrated by FIG. 4, and as will be furtherdiscussed with respect to FIG. 8, a number of additional selectablebuttons 129 (e.g., 130-136) may appear in response to a user selectionof one or more of the selectable buttons 82. Specifically, theadditional selectable buttons 129 (e.g., selectable buttons 130-136) asdepicted in FIG. 4 may include selectable buttons 129 that may appear inresponse to a user selection of the recall selectable button 122 (shownin FIG. 3) or other selectable button 82 that may include additionalcontrol options. By way of example, upon a user selection of the recallselectable button 122 via the display 25 of the borescope 12, thedisplay 25 may display a list view selectable button 130 (“List View”),an up selectable button 132 (“Up”), an edit selectable button 134(“Edit”), and a filter selectable button 136 (“Filter”). As depicted,the list view button 130, the up button 132, the edit button 134, andfilter button 136 may appear to allow the user of the borescope 12 toview, edit, and display stored live video images, freeze-frame images,stored parameter settings, and so forth.

Similarly, a menu popup list 138 may appear in response to a userselection of one or more of the selectable buttons 82, 129 (e.g. filterselectable button 136). It is to be understood that any button 82 mayinclude a visual representation, such as an icon, color, text, and soon, for example, the caret character “̂” shown next to the word “Filter”in button 136, that may tell the user that a long press or other buttonaction may show a popup list. It should also be understood that otherpopup lists may include any of the objects 80 depicted in FIG. 2. Itshould also be appreciated that the additional selectable buttons 129(e.g., appearing in response to a user selection of the recall button122) as depicted in FIG. 4 are included merely for the purpose ofillustration. Indeed, in other embodiments, the additional selectablebuttons 129 may also include selectable buttons allowing the user toselect to play audio (“Stereo”), record audio or video (“Record”),invoke a help option (“Help”) to facilitate inspection, bring forth alist of stored profiles, create a profile, transmit a profile, performone or more measurements, perform comparisons (“Comparison”) and soforth, that may appear in response to a user selection of the respectiveselectable buttons 82. Indeed, the buttons 82 may include any of thefunctions available in the NDT devices 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22including the functions provided via the objects 80. Also depicted is aminimized button 139. The minimized button 139 may be displayed eitheras a button placeholder when a row is displaying less than the totalnumber of buttons (e.g., four per row in the depicted example). Indeed,some states may use less than the total number of buttons (e.g., lessthan four), so the button 139 may be used as placeholder.

Turning now to FIGS. 5-12, which respectively illustrate various statesor screens and the corresponding selectable buttons 82 that may bepresented on the display 25 of the borescope 12 and/or other NDT devices14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 based on the current inspection state of thesystem (e.g., live video monitoring, freeze-frame image monitoring,image recall, and so forth) as discussed above with respect to FIGS. 3and 4. For example, FIG. 5 illustrates a freeze-frame (“FF”) monitoringstate or screen 140, which includes a captured image. As depicted, thefreeze-frame (“FF”) monitoring state or screen 140 may include afreeze-frame image 142 (e.g., captured still image) of a portion of amonitored device or machinery. As illustrated, in the freeze-frame(“FF”) monitoring state or screen 140, the upper row of selectablebuttons 82 may include the annotation selectable button 118(“Annotation”), the image selectable button 124 (“Image”), as well asadditional selectable buttons 82 (“Views”) and (“Stereo”). Similarly, auser selection of the selectable switch 128 may cause the display 25 todisplay the lower row of selectable buttons 82 instead of or in additionto the upper row, which may include the zoom selectable button 116(“Zoom”), the split screen selectable button (“Split Screen”) 114, aswell as additional selectable buttons 82 (“Minimize”) and(“Comparison”).

As previously discussed above with respect to FIGS. 3 and 4, each of theselectable buttons 82 displayed in the respective monitoring states orscreens may be, in some embodiments, completely user-configurable. Forexample, referring again to FIG. 5, the user may reorder the selectablebuttons 82 that appear within the upper row of selectable buttons 82,reorder the selectable buttons 82 that appear within the lower row ofselectable buttons 82, switch the selectable buttons 82 between theupper and lower rows of the selectable buttons 82, modify the possibleselection of selectable buttons 82 (e.g., any possible combination ofselectable buttons 82 up to approximately 8 selectable buttons 82) thatappear in the freeze-frame (“FF”) monitoring state or screen 140, and soforth. The GUI may also include additional hidden rows or columns ofselectable buttons 82 from which the user 48 may choose from.Specifically, the user 48 may configure each of the selectable buttons82 according to the user's preference and/or the specific application.In this way, by providing the borescope 12 and/or other NDT devices 14,16, 18, 20, and 22 with a monitoring state-based or user-configurableGUI, the user 48 (e.g., operator, technician, engineer, and so forth)may be able to navigate through the GUI more comfortably andefficiently, thus facilitating and improving the use anduser-friendliness of such devices in various monitoring applications.

In certain embodiments, as partially illustrated in FIG. 5, but as willbe further discussed with respect to FIG. 6, the techniques describedherein may enable the user 48 to switch between freeze-frame (“FF”)monitoring state or screen to a live video (“Live”) monitoring state orscreen, or to display both of these states or screens simultaneously viaa split screen 144. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6, a userselection of the split screen selectable button 114 may launch the splitscreen 144, which includes a live video (“Live”) monitoring state of themonitored device or machinery and a freeze-frame (“FF”) monitoring stateof the monitored device or machinery appearing in a side-by-sidepresentation. Specifically, the user 48 may be presented with a livevideo (e.g., real-time video) of the monitored device or machinery whilesimultaneously presented with a freeze-frame image (e.g., still image)of the monitored device or machinery to, for example, facilitate theanalysis performed by the user 48. As further depicted, the selectablebuttons 82 (e.g., “Comparison,” “Toggle Active,” “Recall,” and “FullScreen”) may appear across the freeze-frame (“FF”) screen and the livevideo (“Live”) screen.

In a similar manner, FIG. 7 illustrates the recall (“Recall”) monitoringstate or screen 148. As previously noted and as illustrated in FIG. 7, auser selection of the recall selectable button 122 via the display 25may allow the user to view stored files (e.g., stored video, storedimages, stored annotations, stored parameter settings, and so forth) tobe displayed, measured, annotated, further analyzed, and so forth. Forexample, the recall monitoring state or screen 148 depicts an area ofinterest of an otherwise inaccessible portion of the monitored device ormachinery, and also the selectable buttons 82 (e.g., “Play Audio,”“Split Screen,” “Zoom,” and “Image”) and the selectable switch 128. FIG.7 further depicts that one or more of the selectable buttons 82 may beselected in the recall monitoring state.

For example, while analyzing a recalled image via the recall screen 148,the user 48 may desire to analyze a magnified view of the displayed areaof interest of the monitored device or machinery. Thus, the zoomselectable button 116 (“Zoom”) may provided as one of the number (e.g.,4, 8, etc.) of the selectable buttons 82 available to be selected by theuser 48 in the recall state. A user selection of the zoom selectablebutton 116 may launch a magnified view of the recalled image of the areaof interest of the monitored device or machinery as illustrated byscreen 149 in FIG. 8. The screen 149 of FIG. 8 may also include a zoombar 151, enabling the user 48, for example, to easily adjust (e.g., byperforming one or more touch gestures via the display 25) themagnification of the recalled image. A done button 150 (“Done”) may alsobe provided to save the recalled image at the adjusted magnification.

Turning now to FIG. 9, in certain embodiments, as part of the recallmonitoring state or screen 148, a file manager selectable button 154(“File Manager”) may be displayed via the display 25 for selection toview one or more of the files stored on the borescope 12 and/or otherNDT devices 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22. For example, FIG. 9 illustrates ascreen 152, which depicts a number of file folders 156 available forrecall viewing, shown as folder icons. As illustrated, the user 48 maybe allowed to manage (e.g., filter) the stored files (e.g., images,videos, stored settings, and so forth). As a further example, screen 158of FIG. 10 depicts the file folders 156 in a list view. Details 159corresponding to each folder, such as date of creation, time, and size,and so on, may also be displayed by screen 158. Once a folder isnavigated into, screen 160 may display thumbnails 161 of images capturedduring inspection by using the NDT devices 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22, asshown in FIG. 11. The thumbnails may be moved onto a different NDTdevice 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 and/or external devices, includingcloud-based systems, via wireless systems, wired systems, storage cards(e.g., USB cards, SD cards), and the like.

Turning now to FIG. 12, a flow diagram is presented, illustrating anembodiment of a process 162 useful in presenting and configuringselectable buttons 82 as part of a GUI using, for example, one or moreof the NDT devices (e.g., borescope 12) depicted in FIG. 1. The process162 may include code or instructions stored in a non-transitorycomputer-readable medium (e.g., the memory devices 36, 38, 40, 42, 44,and 46) and executed, for example, by the respective processors 24, 26,28, 30, 32, 34 included in the various NDT devices 12, 14, 16, 18, 20,and 22. The process 162 may begin with the processor 24 of the borescope12 presenting (block 164) a GUI including one or more a selectablebuttons via a display of an NDT device (e.g., borescope 12). Forexample, the selectable buttons 82 may be displayed on the display 25 ofthe borescope 12 in approximately 2 rows of 4 selectable buttons 82,which may include, for example, the split screen selectable button 114(“Split Screen”), the zoom selectable button 116 (“Zoom”), theannotation selectable button 118 (“Annotation”), the MDI selectablebutton 120 (“MDI”), the recall selectable button 122 (“Recall”), theimage selectable button 124 (“Image”), and the 3DPM capture selectablebutton 126.

The process 162 may then continue with the processor 24 of the borescope12 configuring (block 166) the presentation of one or more of the one ormore selectable buttons based on an inspection (e.g., monitoring) stateof the GUI presented on the display 25 of the borescope 12 (e.g., videoborescope). For example, the processor 24 of the borescope 12 mayconfigure or arrange the presentation the selectable buttons 82 basedon, for example, whether the GUI is currently in either the live video(“Live”) monitoring state, the freeze-frame (“FF”) monitoring state, therecall (“Recall”) monitoring state, and so forth. Specifically, theborescope may default to displaying the selectable buttons 82 accordingto the expected functions to be performed by the user corresponding toone of the respective monitoring states (e.g., live, freeze-frame,recall, and so forth). The process 162 may then continue with theprocessor 24 of the borescope 12 receiving (block 168) one or more userselections to reconfigure the presentation of the selection of soft keybuttons. For example, the processor 24 of the borescope 12 may receive auser indication to arrange and/or reorder (e.g., arrange the order inwhich the selectable buttons 112-124 appear or rearrange the combinationof selectable buttons 112-124) the presentation of the selectablebuttons 82 based on, for example, user preference, user application,reliability, ease-of-use, and so forth.

The borescope 12 may further allow the user to arrange and/orreconfigure the location on the display 25 the selectable buttons 82appear based on the monitoring state, as well as reconfigure thepossible control options that each selectable button 82 includes as anextension upon selection. For example, as previously discussed withrespect to FIGS. 7 and 8, in the recall monitoring state, the processor24 of the borescope 12 may present additional selectable buttons 82 suchas a file manager selectable button 154 in response to the userselecting the recall selectable button 122 (“Recall”). In this way, byproviding the borescope 12 and/or other NDT devices 14, 16, 18, 20, and22 with a monitoring state-based or user-configurable GUI, the user 48(e.g., operator, technician, engineer, and so forth) may be able tonavigate through the GUI more comfortably and efficiently, thusfacilitating and improving the use and user-friendliness of such devicesin various monitoring applications.

The process 162 may then conclude with the processor 24 of the borescope12 saving (block 170) and/or storing the user-configurable settings orpresentation of the selectable buttons 82 for future use. For example,in one embodiment, as will be further appreciated, the processor 24 ofthe borescope 12 may generate one or more profiles associated with theuser 48 or, in other embodiments, associated with the particular deviceor machinery of which the borescope 12 is monitoring.

Turning now to FIG. 13, the figure is an embodiment of a profile 200suitable for customizing the NDT devices 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 toenable a more efficient interaction between the NDT devices 12, 14, 16,18, 20, 22 and the user 48. The profile 200 may be stored in thememories 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, and 46 as data and/or computer instructionsand may be executed by processors 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34. The profile200 may be stored in a variety of formats, textual and/or binary,including XML, XAML, INI, and so on. In the depicted embodiment, theprofile 200 includes an identification section 202. The identificationsection 202 may be used to uniquely identify the profile 200 and toassociate the profile 200 with a variety of entities. For example, theprofile 200 may be associated with a user (e.g., a user profile), with auser group (e.g., a group-based profile), with a device type (e.g., atype of borescope or any other NDT devices 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22), witha particular device, such as a specific borescope 12 or 14, 16, 18, 20,22 (e.g., NDT device identified by device serial number), with a machinetype (e.g., machine-based profile such as a gas turbine based profile),with a particular machine (e.g., identified by serial number, such as aspecific gas turbine), or a combination thereof.

Accordingly, the profile 200 maybe loaded based on which user 48 isusing the NDT device 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, which group the user 48belongs to, what type of NDT device 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 is beingused, which specific NDT device 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 is being used,what type of machinery is being inspected, what specific machine isbeing inspected, the geographic location of the inspection site, orcombination thereof.

The profile 200 may include a general settings section 204 useful forstoring information related to one or more subsettings. The one or moresubsettings may include system settings, screen and display settings,connectivity settings, image and video settings, and/or measurement andannotation settings. The system settings may store parameters such aspreferred language to use, power management mode to use (e.g.,conservation of power mode), whether or not to use a watermark logo(e.g., logo to insert into images/videos), a preferred time format, apreferred date format, USB settings (e.g., USB slave mode used toupload/download files when the NDT device is connected to an externalcomputing system), and a steering sensitivity. The steering sensitivitymay include parameters related to how much to move a tip probe, forexample, based on user input.

The screen and display settings may include all parameters that may beassociated with the NDT device 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 screen and/or GUIdisplay, such as whether or not touchscreen input is enabled, whether ornot to display a tip map (e.g., visual display showing a tip position inone of four quadrants), whether or not to display a logo, such as amanufacturer's logo, an LCD brightness to use, whether or not to displaycertain items, such as a mute icon, a date, a time, and so on. Theconnectivity settings may include parameters such as whether or not toenable wireless or wired connectivity, and settings used to connect,such as network names, associated passwords, packet sizes, frequenciesto use, and so on. A variety of wireless and wired connectivity may besupported, including IEEE 802.11x (e.g., IEEE 802.11a, b, c, g, n, andso on), Bluetooth, Zigbee, mesh networks, personal area networks, localarea networks, and wide area networks. The connectivity settings mayadditionally include network drives to connect to, and folders of theNDT devices 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 to share.

The image and video settings may include parameters such as preferredfile formats to store images and video (e.g., JPEG, BMP, PNG, TIFF, AVI,MPEG4, H.264 high, H.264 low), locations to store images and video(e.g., preferred storage folders), whether or not a microphone isenabled by default, which microphone to use (e.g., internal microphone,external microphone such as a Bluetooth microphone), which speaker touse (e.g., internal speaker, external speaker such as a Bluetoothspeaker), certain settings associated with menu directed inspections(e.g., whether to save an inspection stage name when saving images orvideo), and distortion correction tables useful to more clearly displaytip images.

The measurement and annotation settings may include parameters such asparameters useful in managing or calibrating inspection tips (e.g., 3DPMtips, stereoscopic inspection tips), whether or not a zoom window(useful in cursor placement during measurement) is enabled or disabled,parameters useful in saving or loading preset data, such as inspectionnotes or annotation data, units of measurements to use, and so on.

The profile 200 may additionally include support for assets or machineryin section 206. For example, the profile 200 may store all parameterspreviously described with respect to section 204 in section 206 to usethe previously mentioned parameters with an asset type or a specificasset identifiable, for example, via a serial number or any other uniqueidentification that may also be stored in section 206. Accordingly,during inspection, the section 206 may load parameters into respectivememories 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, and 46 of the NDT devices 12, 14, 16, 18,20, and 22 to be applied when inspecting the asset identified viasection 206. Likewise, the profile 200 may include support for asubsystem or component of the asset via sections 208, 210, 212 in thesame manner. That is, sections 208, 210, 212 may store all parameters asdescribed above with respect to sections 204, 206 but for a component orsubsystem type (e.g., compressor system of a turbine system), orspecific subsystem or component. In this manner, the profile 200 mayenable a more customized inspection of a variety of assets or machinery50, 60.

A variety of workflows may also be supported in section 214. A workflowmay include a process or processes useful in inspection assets ormachinery 50, 60 by providing for a guided inspection of the assets ormachinery 50, 60. For example, the workflow 214 may include one or moremenu driven inspection (MDI) sections 216, 218, 220. Each MDI section216, 218, 220 may include all of the parameters mentioned above withrespect to sections 204, 206, 208, 210, 212 but directed at specificMDIs. For example, when executing an MDI directed at performing a hotgas path inspection (HGPI) of the gas turbine, an MDI corresponding tothe HPGI process, such as the MDI 216 may be used to retrieve and loadparameters into respective memories 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, and 46 of theNDT devices 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 to be applied when performing theHGPI process. Accordingly, the NDT devices 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 may beset with a specific set of parameters, including system settings, screenand display settings, connectivity settings, image and video settings,and/or measurement and annotation settings. In this manner, any numberof workflows or processes used to test, inspect, or more generallyobserve the facilities and machinery 50, 60, may be more efficientlyperformed. It should also be noted that multiple profiles 200, eachprofile 200 having multiple sections 202-220, may be used. The profile200 may also store a user created configuration of the buttons displayedwith respect to the figures above (e.g., FIGS. 5-12). That is, once theuser 48 has defined a preferred virtual button layout and display, thelayout and display may then be stored in the profile 200.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a process 224 suitable forcreating, executing, and disseminating the profile 200 shown in FIG. 13.The process 224 may include computer instructions or executable codeexecutable by the processors 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 and stored in thememories 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46. In the depicted embodiment, the user 48may create (block 226) the profile 200, for example, via the GUI of theNDT devices 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22. For example, the user 48 maynavigate through a series of screens useful in entering the variousparameters corresponding to the sections 202-220. In some cases, it maybe desirable to customize (block 228) the profile 200 at a later time,so that user may once again navigate through one or more screens tore-enter or edit parameters corresponding to one or more of the sections202-220.

The process 224 may then communicate (block 230) the profile 200 tointerested entities, such as other users 48, user groups, externalsystems (e.g., cloud-based systems), and/or other NDT devices 12, 14,16, 18, 20, 22. The profile 200 may be communicated (block 230) viawireless communications, wired communications, USB memory sticks, SDcards, and the like. The process 224 may then load parameters found inthe profile 200 to inspect (block 232) a variety of assets and machinery50, 60. In this manner, the profile 200 may more easily be used toimprove inspections are a variety of sites having a variety of equipmentand facilities 50, 60.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of an embodiment of information flow 234showing the profile 200 being distributed among a variety of systems. Asillustrated, a first NDT device 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 may distributethe profile 200 to a second NDT device 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, to a datarepository (e.g., LAN database, WAN database) 236, to a cloud-basedsystem, or a combination thereof. Likewise, the profile 200 may bedistributed between the second device 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 the datarepository 236, and/or the cloud-based system back to the first NDTdevice 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 for example, after modifying the profile200 to further customize the profile 200. Additionally, the profile 200may be distributed between the second NDT device 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22the data repository 236, and the cloud-based system. Indeed, the profile200 may be distribute amongst the NDT devices 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 thedata repository 236, and the cloud-based systems, so that the profile200 may be applied to a variety of assets and systems 50, 60.

Technical effects of the present embodiments relate to a non-destructivetesting (NDT) device (e.g., video borescope) useful in presenting andconfiguring selectable buttons (e.g., soft key buttons and/or virtualbuttons) as part of a user-configurable GUI. In certain embodiments, theNDT device may provide, for example, one or more default rows of dynamicselectable buttons (e.g., touch buttons) to allow a select number ofuser-performed monitoring functions to be prioritized via a display ofthe NDT device. In other embodiments, due to the various applicationsthe NDT device may be used for, the NDT device may also provide adifferent arrangement of monitoring functions for each monitoring state(e.g., each individual monitoring screen such as live video state orscreen, a freeze-frame state or screen, a recall state or screen, and soforth) of the GUI presented on the display of the NDT device.Furthermore, in certain embodiments, the selectable buttons (e.g., softkey buttons and/or touch buttons) that appear within each screen of theGUI on the display of the NDT device may be completely user-configurableand stored as user profile or specific machine profile as the frequentlyor periodically uses the NDT device. In this way, by providing the NDTdevice with a monitoring state-based or user-configurable GUI, the user(e.g., operator, technician, engineer, and so forth) may be able tonavigate through the GUI more comfortably and efficiently, thusfacilitating and improving the use and user-friendliness of such devicesin various monitoring applications.

Further technical effects include the creation of a profile suitable forapplying a variety of parameters to the NDT device to customize the NDTdevice to a particular user, user group, NDT device type, specific NDTdevice, asset type, specific asset, component type, specific component,workflow, and menu driven inspection (MDI). The profile may includesystem settings, screen and display settings, connectivity settings,image and video settings, and/or measurement and annotation settings.The profile may be distributed between NDT device and data repositories,external systems, or a combination thereof.

Systems, software, and methods for profile embodiments are as follows:

1. A system, comprising:

a non-destructive testing (NDT) device, comprising:

-   -   a processor; and    -   a computer-readable storage configured to store a profile        suitable for configuring the NDT device for an inspection,        wherein the processor is configured to:    -   receive imaging data captured via a sensor of the NDT device;    -   cause a display of the NDT device to display an image to be        viewed based on the imaging data;    -   create the profile based on a first user input;    -   customize a setting of the NDT device based on the profile to        reconfigure operations of the NDT device for the inspection; and    -   distribute the profile to an external system.        2. The system of claim 1, wherein the profile comprises system        settings, screen and display settings, connectivity settings,        image and video settings, measurement and annotation settings,        or a combination thereof.        3. The system of claim 1, wherein the profile is associated with        a first user of the NDT device.        4. The system of claim 3, comprising a second profile, wherein        the second profile is associated with a second user of the NDT        device and not with the first user.        5. The system of claim 1, wherein the profile comprises an asset        section configured to associate the profile with a specific        asset, a workflow section configured to associate the profile        with a specific workflow, or a combination thereof.        6. The system of claim 5, wherein the asset section comprises a        component section configured to associate the profile with a        subsystem of the asset.        7. The system of claim 5, wherein the workflow section comprises        a menu driven inspection section configured to associate the        profile with a plurality of inspection steps.        7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to        distribute the profile to a second NDT device.        8. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to        receive a second profile from the external device.        9. The system of claim 1, wherein the NDT device comprises a        borescope, a transportable pan-tilt-zoom camera, an eddy current        device, an x-ray inspection device, an ultrasonic inspection        device, or any combination thereof.        10. A tangible, non-transitory, computer readable medium,        comprising computer readable instructions configured to:        receive imaging data captured via a sensor of an NDT device;

cause a display of the NDT device to display an image to be viewed basedon the imaging data;

create the profile based on a first user input;

customize a setting of the NDT device based on the profile toreconfigure operations of the NDT device for an inspection; and

distribute the profile to an external system.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the profilecomprises system settings, screen and display settings, connectivitysettings, image and video settings, measurement and annotation settings,or a combination thereof.12. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the profilecomprises an asset section configured to associate the profile with aspecific asset, a workflow section configured to associate the profilewith a specific workflow, or a combination thereof.13. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the workflowsection comprises a menu driven inspection section configured toassociate the profile with a plurality of inspection steps.14. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the instructionsare configured to distribute the profile to a second NDT device.15. A method, comprising:

receiving imaging data captured via a sensor of an NDT device;

causing a display of the NDT device to display an image to be viewedbased on the imaging data;

creating the profile based on a first user input;

customizing a setting of the NDT device based on the profile toreconfigure operations of the NDT device for an inspection; and

associating the profile with a user of the NDT device.

16. The method of claim 16, comprising distributing the profile to asecond NDT device, to an external system, or a combination thereof.17. The method of claim 16, wherein the profile comprises systemsettings, screen and display settings, connectivity settings, image andvideo settings, measurement and annotation settings, or a combinationthereof.18. The method of claim 16, wherein the profile comprises an assetsection configured to associate the profile with a specific asset, aworkflow section configured to associate the profile with a specificworkflow, or a combination thereof.19. The method of claim 19, wherein the workflow section comprises amenu driven inspection section configured to associate the profile witha plurality of inspection steps.

Systems, software, and methods for state-based selectable buttonsembodiments are as follows:

1. A system, comprising:

a portable non-destructive testing (NDT) device, comprising: a processorconfigured to:

-   -   receive imaging data captured via a sensor of the NDT device;    -   cause a display of the NDT device to display an image to be        analyzed based on the imaging data;    -   cause the display to display a graphical user interface (GUI),        wherein the GUI comprises a first plurality of user-selectable        objects, and wherein each of the first plurality of        user-selectable objects is configured to activate one or more        monitoring functions of the NDT device; and    -   cause the display to display at least a first set of the first        plurality of user-selectable objects, wherein the first set of        the first plurality of user-selectable objects is configured to        substantially overlay the image, and wherein the first set of        the first plurality of user-selectable objects is displayed        based at least in part on an inspection state of the NDT device.        2. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable NDT device        comprises a video borescope, a portable eddy current inspection        device, a transportable radiography device, a portable        ultrasonic flaw detector, a transportable pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ)        camera, an NDT tablet interface device, or any combination        thereof.        3. The system of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a touch        sensitive display, and wherein the first plurality of        user-selectable objects comprises a plurality of virtual touch        buttons.        4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first set of the first        plurality of selectable objects comprises a first row of        user-selectable graphical buttons.        5. The system of claim 4, comprising a second set of the first        plurality of selectable objects, wherein the second set of the        first plurality of selectable objects comprises a second row of        user-selectable graphical buttons sequenced based at least in        part on the inspection state of the NDT device.        6. The system of claim 5, wherein the GUI comprises a selectable        switch, and wherein the processor is configured to cause the        display to switch between displaying the first row of        user-selectable graphical buttons to displaying the second row        of user-selectable graphical buttons when the selectable switch        is actuated.        7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to        receive a user indication to reconfigure the sequence of the        first plurality of user-selectable objects via the display.        8. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to        sequence the first plurality of user-selectable objects based at        least in part on whether the GUI is in a live video monitoring        state, a freeze-frame monitoring state, or in a recall        monitoring state.        9. The system of claim 8, wherein, in the live video monitoring        state, the processor is configured to cause the display to        display a real-time or near real-time video image, wherein, in        the freeze-frame monitoring state, the processor is configured        to cause the display to display a still image, and wherein, in        the recall monitoring state, the processor is configured to        cause the display to display one or more stored video images or        still images.        10. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured        to cause the display to display a second plurality of        user-selectable objects upon detection of a selection of at        least one of the user-selectable object of the first plurality        of user-selectable objects.        11. The system of claim 1, wherein the NDT device is configured        to inspect a turbine, a compressor, a generator, a motor, or any        combination thereof.        12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer        executable code stored thereon, the code comprising instructions        to:

receive image data captured via a camera of an NDT device;

display an image to be analyzed based on the captured image data;

display a graphical user interface (GUI), wherein the GUI comprises aplurality of user-selectable buttons, and wherein each of the pluralityof user-selectable buttons is configured to execute one or moremonitoring functions of the NDT device; and

display a first set of the plurality of user-selectable buttons, whereinthe first set of the plurality of user-selectable buttons is configuredto substantially overlay the image, and wherein the first set of theplurality of user-selectable buttons is sequenced based at least in parton a monitoring state of the GUI.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein thecode comprises instructions to receive a user indication to reconfigurethe sequence of the plurality of user-selectable buttons.14. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the code comprisesinstructions to display a user-selectable switch and to switch betweendisplaying a first row of user-selectable buttons of the plurality ofuser-selectable buttons to displaying a second row of user-selectablebuttons of the plurality of user-selectable buttons when the selectableswitch is actuated.15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein thecode comprises instructions to sequence the plurality of user-selectablebuttons based at least in part on whether the GUI is in a live videomonitoring state, a freeze-frame monitoring state, or a recallmonitoring state.16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein thecode comprises instructions to display a second plurality ofuser-selectable buttons upon detection of a user selection of at leastone user-selectable button of the plurality of user-selectable buttons.17. A method, comprising:

receiving image data captured via a camera of an NDT device;

displaying an image to be analyzed based on the captured image data;

displaying a graphical user interface (GUI), wherein the GUI comprises aplurality of graphical touch buttons, and wherein each of the pluralityof graphical touch buttons is configured to execute one or moremonitoring functions of the NDT device; and

displaying a first set of the plurality of graphical touch buttons,wherein the first set of the plurality of graphical touch buttons isconfigured to substantially overlay the image, and wherein the first setof the plurality of graphical touch buttons is sequenced based at leastin part on a monitoring state of the GUI.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first plurality of graphicaltouch buttons comprises a first row of at least four graphical touchbuttons and the second plurality of graphical touch buttons comprises asecond row of at least four graphical touch buttons, and wherein asequence or configuration of the presentation of the first plurality ofgraphical touch buttons and the second plurality of graphical touch isuser-configurable.19. The method of claim 17, wherein the GUI comprises a graphical touchswitch displayed along with at least one of the first plurality ofgraphical touch buttons and the second plurality of graphical touchbuttons, and wherein the GUI is configured to present the firstplurality of graphical touch buttons when the graphical touch switch isin a first position and to present the second plurality of graphicaltouch buttons when the graphical touch switch is in a second position.20. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of states of the GUIcomprises a live video monitoring state, a freeze-frame monitoringstate, or a recall monitoring state.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the invention, including making and using any devices orsystems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope ofthe invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examplesthat occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intendedto be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elementsthat do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if theyinclude equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differencesfrom the literal languages of the claims.

1. A portable non-destructive testing (NDT) device, comprising: a sensorconfigured to acquire imaging data; a display configured to display animage based on the acquired imaging data and a graphical user interface(GUI) substantially overlaying the image, wherein the GUI includes afirst plurality of user-selectable objects configured to activate one ormore monitoring functions of the NDT device; and a processor configuredto: detect an operation state of the NDT device; control the GUI suchthat a presentation of a first set of the first plurality ofuser-selectable objects, via the display, is configured in accordancewith the detected operation state of the NDT device; receive a userselection for reconfiguring the presentation of the first set of thefirst plurality of user-selectable objects; and control the GUI suchthat the presentation of the first set of the first plurality ofuser-selectable objects, via the display, is reconfigured in accordancewith the user selection.
 2. The NDT device of claim 1, wherein the NDTdevice comprises a video borescope, a portable eddy current inspectiondevice, a transportable radiography device, a portable ultrasonic flawdetector, a transportable pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera, an NDT tabletinterface device, or any combination thereof.
 3. The NDT device of claim1, wherein the display comprises a touch sensitive display, and whereinthe first plurality of user-selectable objects comprises a plurality ofvirtual touch buttons.
 4. The NDT device of claim 1, wherein the firstset of the first plurality of selectable objects comprises a first rowof user-selectable graphical buttons.
 5. The NDT device of claim 4,further comprising a second set of the first plurality of selectableobjects, wherein the second set of the first plurality of selectableobjects comprises a second row of user-selectable graphical buttonssequenced based at least in part on the visual image state of the NDTdevice.
 6. The NDT device of claim 5, wherein the GUI comprises aselectable switch, and wherein the processor is configured to cause thedisplay to switch between displaying the first row of user-selectablegraphical buttons to displaying the second row of user-selectablegraphical buttons on a same screen when the selectable switch isactuated.
 7. The NDT device of claim 1, wherein the processor isconfigured to receive the user selection via the display.
 8. The NDTdevice of claim 1, wherein the operation state of the NDT devicecomprises a live video monitoring state, a freeze-frame monitoringstate, or in a recall monitoring state.
 9. The NDT device of claim 8,wherein, in the live video monitoring state, the processor is configuredto cause the display to display a real-time or near real-time videoimage, wherein, in the freeze-frame monitoring state, the processor isconfigured to cause the display to display a still image, and wherein,in the recall monitoring state, the processor is configured to cause thedisplay to display one or more stored video images or still images. 10.The NDT device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to causethe display to display a second plurality of virtual touch buttons upondetection of a selection of at least one of the user-selectable objectof the first plurality of user-selectable objects.
 11. The NDT device ofclaim 1, wherein the NDT device is configured to inspect a turbine, acompressor, a generator, a motor, or any combination thereof.
 12. Anon-transitory computer-readable medium having computer executable codestored thereon, the code comprising instructions to: control operationof a sensor of a portable non-destructive testing (NDT) device so as toacquire imaging data; display, via a display of the NDT device, an imagebased on the acquired imaging data and a graphical user interface (GUI)substantially overlaying the image, wherein the GUI includes a firstplurality of user-selectable objects configured to activate one or moremonitoring functions of the NDT device; detect an operation state of theNDT device; control the GUI such that a presentation of a first set ofthe first plurality of user-selectable objects, via the display, isconfigured in accordance with the detected operation state of the NDTdevice receive a user selection for reconfiguring the presentation ofthe first set of the first plurality of user-selectable objects; andcontrol the GUI such that the presentation of the first set of the firstplurality of user-selectable objects, via the display, is reconfiguredin accordance with the user selection.
 13. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the code comprisesinstructions to receive the user selection via the display.
 14. Thecomputer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the code comprisesinstructions to display a user-selectable switch and to switch betweendisplaying a first row of user-selectable buttons of the plurality ofuser-selectable buttons to displaying a second row of user-selectablebuttons of the plurality of user-selectable buttons on a same screenwhen the selectable switch is actuated.
 15. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the operation state of theNDT device comprises a live video monitoring state, a freeze-framemonitoring state, or a recall monitoring state.
 16. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the code comprisesinstructions to display a second plurality of user-selectable buttonsupon detection of a user selection of at least one user-selectablebutton of the plurality of user-selectable buttons.
 17. A method,comprising: controlling operation of a sensor of a portablenon-destructive testing (NDT) device so as to acquire imaging data;displaying, via a display of the NDT device, an image based on theacquired imaging data and a graphical user interface (GUI) substantiallyoverlaying the image, wherein the GUI includes a first plurality ofuser-selectable objects configured to activate one or more monitoringfunctions of the NDT device; detecting an operation state of the NDTdevice; controlling the GUI such that a presentation of a first set ofthe first plurality of user-selectable objects, via the display, isconfigured in accordance with the detected operation state of the NDTdevice; receiving a user selection for reconfiguring the presentation ofthe first set of the first plurality of user-selectable objects; andcontrolling the GUI such that the presentation of the first set of thefirst plurality of user-selectable objects, via the display, isreconfigured in accordance with the user selection.
 18. The method ofclaim 17, wherein the first plurality of graphical touch buttonscomprises a first row of at least four graphical touch buttons and thesecond plurality of graphical touch buttons comprises a second row of atleast four graphical touch buttons, and wherein a sequence orconfiguration of the presentation of the first plurality of graphicaltouch buttons and the second plurality of graphical touch buttons isuser-configurable.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the GUI comprisesa graphical touch switch displayed along with at least one of the firstplurality of graphical touch buttons and the second plurality ofgraphical touch buttons, and wherein the GUI is configured to presentthe first plurality of graphical touch buttons when the graphical touchswitch is in a first position and to present the second plurality ofgraphical touch buttons when the graphical touch switch is in a secondposition.
 20. The method of claim 17, wherein the operation state of theNDT device comprises a live video monitoring state, a freeze-framemonitoring state, or a recall monitoring state.